Ever Wondered What Our Buddhist Flag Souvenirs Really Stand For?

A monk explains in the video that ‘lung ta’, a term used to refer to the flags, means ‘wind horse’.

Buddhist flags flying in the wind. (Photo: iStockphoto)

You may have brought back Buddhist prayer flags from Manali and maybe hung them in your car. But these flags are much more than just souvenirs and hold special religious significance.

Did you know, for instance, that the flags are meant to be hung outdoors so that they can flutter in the wind? This is just one of the things that few know about the colourful flags, often considered synonymous with the hilly regions of Northern India.

A short video introduces people to the process of making the flags, and what they stand for in the Buddhist community. It has been created by ‘Spiti Ecosphere - Responsible Travel and Volunteering’, a group that promotes eco-tourism in Himachal Pradesh,

In the documentary, a monk explains that the flags are sometimes referred to as ‘lung ta’, meaning ‘wind horse’. So, they should always be allowed to fly freely in the wind.